Beagleboard:Debian On BeagleBone Black

This page shows you how to boot various versions of Debian on your BeagleBone Black. These are just options that are in addition to the Angstrom that ships with the boards. These options are not officially supported by Circuitco or Beagleboard.org.

Main Process

The steps described here are steps you must take before installing either version of Debian described in this Wiki. These instructions are for users with a Windows computer.

Download one of the following images. The first image requires you to boot from a microSD every time while the second image allows you to flash the image to the eMMC and boot from there.

After Win32 Disk Imager has finished, remove the microSD card from your computer.

You are now ready to follow directions below that correspond to the version of Debian you downloaded.

Debian Wheezy On Micro SD

This section assumes you have completed the Main Process section at the top of this page. This section shows you how to install Debian Wheezy on a microSD card to boot your BeagleBone Black from. NOTE: This process does not flash the eMMC with an image to boot from; it only provides instructions to boot from a micro SD card every time.

After you have put the BeageBone Black Debian Wheezy 7.0.0 image on a micro SD card insert it into the powered-off BBB.

Also make sure you have a keyboard, mouse, display, and Ethernet connected

While holding down the boot button, apply power to the board. Continue to hold the 'boot' button until the USER LEDs begin to flash

You should use a 5V external power source if possible, USB power is acceptable but may not work.

After about a minute your screen should show the terminal login prompt, sign in

User: debian

Password: debian

Note: echo is turned off for typing in password

You should now have a terminal.

Remember that any time you want to boot from microSD you may have to hold down the 'boot' button. If you don't, the BBB may just boot from whatever is on the eMMC. To prevent this from happening see this FAQ